Overview

An elegant jazz and classical pianist for any special occasion. Gillian Berkowitz is a Broadway Music Director and pianist who has performed in over 30 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, and is Associate Conductor of Off-Broadway's Avenue Q.
Also has her MA in Jazz Performance and Composition.

Gillian provides beautiful music with an exquisite ambiance for any occasion. Whether you are seeking Standards from Ella and Frank to Michael Buble' and Harry Connick Jr, Brazilian Standards, Broadway Favorites, or Contemporary Hits from yesterday and today, she tailors the event seamlessly.

Options include trio/duo instrumentation. Photo/video services are also available for proposals.

15 Reviews

After agreeing to book Gillian for our corporate event, she did not disappoint! Such a lovely, friendly and flexible musician. She played beautifully and entertained our guests all night. I won't be hesitating to book Gillian again for our next event. Thank you so much!

Gillian has that unique combination of outrageously gifted musician and affable entertainer where she adapts her style to a wide variety of environments. From a whimsically fun party to a more serious corporate event, she tunes her ear beyond the music and into the souls of her audience.

Gillian was exceptional. We hired her as a pianist for our senior home's monthly birthday party and the residents loved her! She brought along a friend, a wonderful vocalist, and together put on an amazing upbeat performance. They had our seniors singing along and remembering the good times. We'd love to have Gillian again soon.

I hired Gillian's string trio to play at my mom's apartment as a surprise for her 80th birthday. Gillian and the musicians were happy to collude in the surprise and very attentive to the surrounding details. According to my (fussy) mom, the music was wonderful and the musicians warm and kind. Highly recommend!

Hired as:Classical Ensemble

Response from Gillian Berkowitz:

Thank you Deb! It was a pleasure to be part of this happy occasion and for such a lovely person!

Gillian Berkowitz’s playing at our October event was wonderful and a perfect accompaniment to the reception. She is a talented pianist with a wide and varied selection. Equally important, she provided exceedingly professional, responsive and quick work assembling the string trio we used, including considerable research on specific selections. High recommendations from this client.

Gillian is the most thoughtful and creative musical artist ever. It was beyond a blessing having her play our wedding ceremony. She was collaborative, quick on her feet, and often knew what we wanted before we did! Do yourself the best favor possible and hire Gillian. Right now. When you're stressed and flustered from all the decisions that come with life-altering events like getting married, this is a no-brainer.

Gillian was fantastic to work with. She was prompt on all communications, very professional, and even knew how to play songs for our wedding that I thought were more obscure. She helped to select the right songs for the ceremony and even got on a call to play certain songs so I can make my decision more easily. There were also no issues the day of of the wedding - her and the violinist showed up on time and played beautifully!

Hired as:Classical Pianist, Violinist

Response from Gillian Berkowitz:

Thank you so much Janet and Dustin! We were thrilled to be there with you and congratulations again!

Gillian was amazing at our product shoot. Her piano skills were not only approaching perfection, she also went above and beyond to make the shoot interesting and fun. 10/10 would recommend and can't wait to work with her again in the future.

From the the first contact I had with Gillian I knew that I had found someone special to be a part of our wedding ceremony. She is incredibly quick to respond and offers great recommendations for music/set up logistics/timing, which was very helpful since we were planning an outdoor ceremony. I truly appreciated how open and flexible Gillian was allowing us to choose our own songs and learned one just for us which she played with extreme talent! She not only played flawlessly for us and our guests, but she also added a wonderful presence to our ceremony through her grace and warm demeanor that guests have continued to comment on. I would hire Gillian again in an instant!

I live in Texas and wanted to plan a surprise proposal in Central Park with a violinist and keyboard player. I had no idea how to make it happen. I went to Gig Salad, Gillian contacted me and made it all work! She was truly amazing!! She picked out the spot, played the songs I chose beautifully and made my proposal to the love of my life unforgettable! It could not have been any better!! I highly recommend Gillian for any event!

Gillian is a talented pianist who was very easy to work with and able to read the mood and tone of our event very quickly. Additionally she was very flexible with music choice and charming to all our guests. She was a wonderful pianist and excellent addition to our event. We would hire again without a moment's thought.

Gillian Berkowitz is a professional! She has the ability to fit into the occasion seamlessly...whether it be a sophisticated dinner party or a boisterous anniversary celebration. She has truly enhanced the events I've hosted with a wide repertoire, a beautiful playing style and a delightful personality. Gillian is a find.

Gillian's music made my event so festive and memorable. She played all of our favorite songs from pop to Broadway. She was engaging with all of the guests, young and old.
It was a pleasure to work with her and I would gladly hire her again for another party.

Booking Info

What to Expect

Provides a polished, sophisticated experience. Various musical styles and choices of ensemble size to fit any occasion from solo artist to duo/trio to full band including vocals. Photo/video services are also available for proposals. We are seasoned musicians who strive to make each event seamless and beautiful.

About

Gillian Berkowitz (Piano/Keyboard/Vocals)
An in demand musician, Gillian Berkowitz has performed piano, keyboard, accordion, organ and vocals in over 30 Broadway and Off Broadway shows. She is currently performing in A Bronx Tale, School of Rock, Wicked, as well as serving as Associate Conductor in Avenue Q. Gillian has worked with such notables as Jason Alexander, Eartha Kitt, Vincent Piazza, Ann Hampton Callaway, and Daniel Radcliffe. She has been featured as both a soloist and collaborator playing jazz, pop, classical, contemporary and theatre music in venues across New York City, including 54 Below, Lincoln Center, Green Room 42, Birdland, Merkin Hall, City Winery, Le Poisson Rouge and both the Consulate General of Hungary and the Australian Consulate. She composes and performs with the Sheba Ensemble, promoting Jewish music with a unique contemporary twist (www.shebaensemble.com) and is a pianist for Elan Artists. Most recently Gillian was on faculty in Italy's Music Academy International: Trentino Music Festival Per Mezzano Romantica.

Her two trios: City Swing Trio and Whitetail Trio perform for corporate and private events across New York and New England.

Gillian is also an adjunct faculty member at Pace University. Past shows include the World Premier of Bill Russell and Janet Hood’s new musical Unexpected Joy and Vanishing Point, The Musical (www.vanishingpointthemusical.com/Home.html, Cabot Cove album release, and Off Broadway’s A Taste of Things to Come at the York Theatre in NYC.
Ithaca College: BM Classical Performance/Education
NYU: MA Jazz Performance and Composition

Set List

Partial Standards List:

What Is This Thing Called Love, C. Porter
When I Fall In Love, Heyman, Young
Triste, Jobim
Satin Doll, Ellington
La Vie En Rose, Edith Piaf
How High The Moon, M. Lewis
It Don’t Mean a Thing, Ellington
Besame Mucho, Velazquez
Sunny Side of the Street, Mchugh/Fields
Embraceable you, Gershwin
I’m Beginning to see the light, Ellington
Autumn Leaves, Mercer
Lullaby of Birdland, G. Shearing
There Will Never Be Another You, Warren/Gordon
I Feel The Earth Move, Carole King
Someday my Prince Will Come, Churchhill
It Had To be You, Jones/Kahn
The Way You Look Tonight, Kerns, Field
Don't get around much anymore, Ellington
The Girl From Ipanema, Jobim
Lady be Good - George Gershwin
Bernie’s Tune - Bernie Miller
No more blues, Jobim
All the Things You Are - Jerome Kern
I can’t give you anything but love - Jimmy McHugh
Corcovado, Jobim
Beyond the sea, Trenet
I Love You, C. Porter
Black Orpheus, Bonfi
But Not For Me, Gershwin
Sway, Ruiz
S'Wonderful, Gershwin
Putting on the Ritz - Irving Berlin
Accustomed To Her Face, Lerner/Lowe

Partial Broadway:
For Good, Broadway Wicked
This is The Moment, F. Wildhorn
All I Ask Of You, A. L. Webber
Some Enchanted Evening, Rodgers and Hammerstein
Seasons of Love, Jonathan Larson
Some Other Time, Bernstein, Comden and Green
Winner Takes It All/Dancing Queen, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus,
Send In The Clowns, Sondheim
Getting To Know You, Rodgers and Hammerstein